Willis: 7-time NASCAR champ finds himself in a competitive ditch

Ken Willis @HeyWillieNJ

Saturday

Sep 8, 2018 at 5:06 PMSep 8, 2018 at 5:06 PM

INDIANAPOLIS — There’s been so much focus on the business side of NASCAR this year, as well as the ongoing void in visual leadership, it’s as if we’re completely overlooking the weirdness of Jimmie Johnson’s current situation.

Saturday at Indy, with rain falling, heavier rain approaching, and the day’s on-track activities mercifully scratched at an early hour, the seven-time champ talked to the media about a wide range of issues.

But in reality, the only important subject was Jimmie himself and how in the world that No. 48 team could get so far off the rails, almost without warning, with no indication that things will get better. Yes, he also talked about the business climate, but first, the here-and-now competitive problem.

Whenever this weekend’s Brickyard 400 is raced, either Sunday or Monday, there’s an outside chance Jimmie Johnson could be shoved out of the playoffs. Think about that one.

The odds are pretty long against it, but frankly, no taller than the apparent odds of Team 48 suddenly finding the fast lane again.

“… We’ve had a tough year,” he began.

Yeah, no kidding. He’s been no better than ninth since early June at Pocono, a stretch of 11 races. Only two top-fives this year, and dating back to last season, only two top-fives in 32 starts. It’s too easy to suggest Indy is a place where he and the No. 48 team can “find it,” given their four previous Brickyard wins.

But Jimmie says the right things.

“It’s been extremely frustrating and extremely difficult to live through, but we are all still very eager to turn it around and know that we will,” he said Saturday. “And, a win is the way to turn it around. We’ve seen this team get hot at times and we’ve been unstoppable. And a win would be the starting point of that. So, I’m very hopeful we can get that done this weekend.”

Johnson is on the doorstep of his 43rd birthday, which was primetime for a NASCAR racer several years ago. But given the dip in average retirement ages the past few years, you have to wonder if Johnson is limping toward the exit ramp.

Again, he says the right things, engaging his mental time machine and projecting images of those five straight championships from 2006-10.

“My optimism to turn things around is because I’ll never give up. I just won’t,” he said. “I have to show up every week and have a clear mind and start on a clean sheet of paper. I have carried stuff from track to track. It’s not been beneficial.

“The best thing I can do for my team is to show up as if I’m in the middle of that five-championship stretch and have that swagger and show up ready to roll. And, that’s one of my responsibilities to do each week. So, I’m ready. Let’s go.”

Not so fast. The Doppler promises to be friendlier Sunday, but no guarantees. Already, Saturday’s Xfinity Series race has been rescheduled for Monday morning. Hopefully, the Brickyard 400 doesn’t follow suit. It’s just the latest hurdle thrown in front of NASCAR’s 2018 efforts, which included moving the Brickyard to a presumably friendlier September date.

“Sadly,” Jimmie said, “we make the move and then Mother Nature is like, ‘nope, not yet.’ I’m sad for our sport and for the track. But, I think our racing has been phenomenal all year long. I think the tracks are working harder than ever to create the best fan experience they can at an affordable price.”

The “affordable price” is relative and arguable, of course, but Jimmie eventually worked his way to an optimistic landing area.

“I don’t know why it hasn’t turned harder and why more people aren’t in the stands at some tracks. Some tracks, the stands are full and it looks great and some, not so much. I don’t know what the magic bullet or silver bullet is. I’m not sure there is one.

“But if we keep staying the course and putting on great shows and the tracks keep working hard for fan value and experience, it’ll all come back.”

Reach Ken Willis at ken.willis@news-jrnl.com

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